Awning window



Jan. 25, 1966 H. SMITH ETAL 3,230,586

AWNING WINDOW Filed Aug. 24, 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet l 34 1" 1 I r Fl G 2 1l i 27 112* ATTORNEYS 25, 1966 E. H. SMITH ETAL 3, 0,5

AWNING WINDOW Filed Aug. 24, 1961 3 SheetsSheet 2 F l G 7.

INVENTORS FIG. 6 5%2522232 ATTORNEYS Jan. 25, 1966 E. H. SMITH ETAL3,230,586

AWNING WINDOW Filed Aug. 24, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 IN VENTORS E. bA/VJYSMITH 6501665 #0 7L6, JR

BYJMW 04% ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,230,586 AWNING WINDQW ElmusHanby Smith and George Hoyle, Jr., Knoxville, Tenn., assignors toAmerican Duralite, Inc., London, TenrL, a corporation of New York FiledAug. 24, '1961, Ser. No. 133,600 l'Claim. (Cl. -42) The presentinvention relates to awning windows, and more particularly to awningwindows having improved locking arrangements for the windows in both theopen and closed positions.

Awning windows are those type of windows which are provided with aplurality of panes or vents usually mounted in vertical array. Through acommon operator, the windows may be swung between open and closedpositions, the swinging taking place in a vertical plane. Moreparticularly, in some improved constructions of such windows, there isfirst effected a downward sliding movement of the vents, followed by anoutward swinging movement, this being in a vertical planeasaforementioned. On the closing movement, the reverse order-ofoperation occurs; that is, the vents are first swung in a verticalplane-until they are in a position generally flush with the windowframe, and'then are moved upwardly in a linear motion.

In this type of awning window, it is desirable that the vent be firmlyheld, or locked, in the fully open position, in order that it may be asstrong as possible and resist forces imposed thereon, as by the wind. Itis also desirable that these vents be securely locked in the closedposition so as to prevent any accidental opening of them, and so as toprevent rattling of them.

There has'heretofore been suggested various constructions of locks forthe vents while in closed position. Those known constructions have been,however, of expensive construction and generally complex. For example,one such construction required an expensive molded fitting whichpermitted only a sliding motion between the abutting surface on the ventand the fitting.

An object of the present invention is to provide positive locking of anawning type window.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of an awningtype window having positive locking in both the open and closedpositions.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an improvedlocking arrangement for an awning type window when in the closedposition, which locking arrangement will be of simple and economicalconstruction.

A still further object of the present invention is the provision of anawning'type window with a locking arrangement for the closed positionwhich provides for rotary motion between the locking parts.

Another objectof the present'invention is the provision of a lockingarrangement for an awning typewindow When the vents are in openposition.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of an awningtype window having a lock for the vents when the vents are inopenposition, which lock is positive in operation and which may be readilyand automatically released.

Yet another object of the present invention-is to provide an openposition lock for the vent of an awning type window where the window isof that type which swings vertically from an open to a closed positionand which then slides to a secured position.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of the presentinvention will be apparent from the following description and drawingswherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an awning window in accordance with thepresent invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 22 of FIG. 1.

FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 are detail views showing the vent link in threedifferent positions.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line'66 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 is a front elevation, with parts removed, showing the samestructure as in FIG. 2.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged isometric view with partsremoved illustrating thelocking structure at the vent sill and at the vent bracket regions ofthe awning window.

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like or corresponding referencenumerals are used to designate like or corresponding parts throughoutthe several views, there is shown in FIG. 1 anawning window generallydesignated 10 and comprising a window frame 11 extending in a generallyrectangular configuration. The frame 11 comprises frame sill 14-andframe header 16 and a pair of vertically disposed frame jambs 12 and 13,each jamb having, of course, the same structural details. There may alsobe seen in FIG. 1 the three vertically spaced vents 17, 18 and 19, eachof which comprises a frame 21 and a glass pane 22.

Operation'of the vents 17, 18 and 19 is initiated, in known manner, byrotation of a crank 23 having a suitable connection with a torque bar24, which may be seen in FIGS. 2 and 7. Rotation ofthe torque bar 24causes the torque arms 26 to rotaate, to thereby actuate the twoconnecting bars 27.

Referring now to FIG. 2, there may be seen the aforementioned -torquebar 24, the torque arm 26 and the connecting bar 27, which latter ispivotally connected at its upper end to the linkage bar 28. Linkage bar28 is constrained to slide in a suitable channel extending linearly ofthejamb portion 12.

Secured to theupper part .of each of the vents is a vent bracket29'which is also pivotally secured, as at 31, to the linkage bar28. Asmay best be seenin FIGS. 2, 7 and 8, the vent bracket 29 has thereon alaterally extending abutting surface 32, the function of which will behereinafter described. A vent link 33 is pivotally connected at itsupper end to the vent, and carries two shouldered pins at its lower end.These pins, comprising the lower pin 34 and the upper pin 36, coact witha vent link slide block 37 which is secure-d to the jamb, 12, as maybest be seen in FIGS. 2 and 7.

Referring now to FIGS. 3 to 6, it may be seen that the vent linkslideblock 37 has a generally vertically extending slot 38 and a recess39 therein adjacent .to and communicating with the slot 38. Therecess 39is slightly above the bottom of the slot 38 and is toward the vent, asis clearly shown in FIG. 2.

As may be seen from FIG. 6, the pins 34 and 36 may be provided withsuitable shoulders to provide for engagement with co-acting shoulders onthe block 37.

In operation of the mechanism thus far described, when the parts are inthe full line position shown in FIG. 2, to which corresponds theposition shown in FIG. 3, the pin 34 will be lodged at the bottom ofslot 38 and the pin 36 will be lodged in the recess 39, so that therewill be a rigid holding of the vent in the open position. Upon turningof the crank 23, the torque bar 24 will-be caused to rotate, to therebyrotate the torque arm 26 in a clockwise direction, and to thereby raisethe linkage bar 28 through the intermediary of the connecting bar .27.'This will in turn raise the pivot 31, so as to carry upwardly the ventbracket 29 and'in fact, the vent itself. The upper end of vent link 33will thereby be caused to rotate about pin 34, so as to bring pin 36 outof the recess 39 (see FIG. 4) and into the slot 38. Upon continuedupward movement of the linkage bar 28, the pins 34 and 36 will be raisedto the position shown in FIG. 5, being carried thereby the vent bracket29, the vent to which it is attached and vent link 33. When in theposition shown in FIG. 5, it is impossible for vent link 33 to rotate,and its only possible motion is to descend along the slot 38 back to theposision shown in FIG. 4, and thence into the position shown in FIG. 3.

By the above construction, and particularly that of the vent link pins34 and 36 and the vent link slide block 37, the vents will be heldfirmly in the fully open position and the awning window will have arigid and durable construction for maintaining it in this positionagainst all loads imposed upon it.

FIGURE 8 shows in detail the cross-sectional shape of jamb 12illustrating among other things, how linkage bar 28 slides verticallyinside a channel 46 disposed adjacent the rear of jamb portion 12. Aflange 47 disposed opposite channel 46 on jamb 12, serves for mountingslide block 37 thereon (not shown in FIG. 8). The vertical channel-like48 surface toward the front, so to speak, of jamb 12 has mounted thereonlocking rollers 42, 43 at appropriate locations. This displacement oflocking rollers 42, 43 from linkage bar 28 may, perhaps, best be seen inFIGURE 2. Although only one roller 42 and one roller 43 are illustratedin FIGURE 8, it should be appreciated that the jamb 12 has mountedthereon a higher or upper roller 42 and a lower roller 43 for each ventof the window, the upper rollers co-acting with the vent brackets 29 andthe lower rollers co-acting with the vent sills 49 to lock the vents inclosed position.

The specific positioning of each lower locking roller 43, is, as shownin FIGURE 8, adapted for locking engagement in the closed and closingposition by an abutment surface 44 which forms an extension of the ventsill 49.

FIGURE 8 specifically illustrates how abutting surface 44 on the ventsill 49 of vent 18 engages locking roller 43 to the rear thereof whenthe vent is closed.

Each upper roller 42 is positioned for abutting engagement with thesurface 32 on vent bracket 29, again in a closing and closed position ofthe vent. The abutting engagement of locking roller 42 with surface 32is again to the rear of the roller. FIGURE 2 shows how rollers 42, 43associated with different vents, e.g. 17, 18 are actually disposedadjacent each other (being, however, vertically and horizontally off-setone from the other) and co-act to maintain a tightly closed window bytheir locking action on adjacent vents 17, 18 or 18, 19.

During the closing motion of the vents, as will be understood from theabove description, the vents are first swung in a vertical plane untilthey are generally flush with the jamb portions of the frame 11;thereafter, they will be urged linearly in an upward direction parallelto frame 11 by the continuing upward movement of linkage bar 28. Duringthis upward movement the abutting surface 44 on the vent frame willengage the locking roller 43 which will then rotate as necessary, thisbeing in a counter-clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 8. At first theabutting surface 44 will engage the locking roller 43 at a point on theroller periphery inwardly, or to the left of a vertical plane passingthrough the pivotal axis of locking roller 43 and during further closingmovement will thereby be urged towards the inner part of the window, tothereby more securely lock the vent, by the inward movement. In similarfashion, the abutting surface 32 on vent bracket 29 will strike somepoint on the periphery of the locking roller 42 and will be urgedinwardly, or away from the observer as is shown in FIG. 8.

The action of these locking rollers, provides positive locking for thevents in the closed position with an extremely simple structure lendingitself to a rotary camming motion, rollers 42, 43 being, of course,freely rotatable around the rivets or pins onwhich they are mounted.

Ideally, the vents should close with virtually no stress being exertedon rollers 42, 43 by the vents, but as a practical matter virtually noinstalled window retains perfect alignment over years of use. For thisreason, the rotary and camming motion by action of rollers 42, 43 ispeculiarly advantageous for the awning window as a whole. Misalignmentwill simply cause the edge surface 32 of vent bracket 29 to actuallystrike an upper roller 42 instead of gently abutting the same as thevent closes and will occasion a rotary movement of roller 42 which camssurface 32 on vent bracket 29 into its proper abutting position. In likemanner, lower roller 43 will cam the lower frame portion of the ventinto proper alignment. Also since the rollers turn freely the point ofactual impact on roller 42 or 43 (which may be made from nylon or anysuitable plastic) nearly always occurs at a different location on theperiphery of the roller. As a result, cutting of the roller materialdoes not occur; instead the roller periphery wears down in a relativelyuniform manner. Thus, the awning window as a Whole is capable of alengthy period of trouble free operation even with a sloppy installationand severe or abusive use.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes maybe made. without departing from the spirit of the invention andtherefore the invention is not limited to what is shown in thespecification, but only as indicated in the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

An awning window comprising a window frame having a pair of verticallydisposed jamb portions, a linkage bar slidably mounted along each ofsaid jamb portions, means for sliding said linkage bars along said jambportions, a plurality of vents positioned one above the other on saidwindow frame for vertical swinging movement from said Window frame, ventbrackets secured at the upper part of each vent and pivotally attachedto a said linkage bar, vent links each pivotally mounted at one end to asaid vent, means mounting the other end of each said vent link to saidwindow frame, and comprising a block having a generally verticallyextending slot therein, said block having a recess therein adjacent toand communicating with said slot, said recess being slightly above thebottom of said slot and towards said vent, said vent link having upperand lower pins thereon extending at least partially through said block,said upper pin being positioned to enter said recess when said vent isopened while said lower pin is at the bottom of said slot, whereby uponupward sliding of said linkage bar said vents will be given an inwardswinging motion to a position generally flush with said jamb portion andthen will be moved linearly upwardly, said vents having outwardly facingabutting surfaces adjacent the upper and lower margins thereof, andlocking roller means on each said jamb portion for urging said ventsinwardly during said linear movement comprising a first upper rollerpositioned to be engaged by a said upper abutting surface and a secondlower roller positioned to be engaged by said lower abutting surface.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,132,652 3/1915Crane 189--67 X 2,693,622 ll/ 1954 Brenner 2042 2,905,981 9/1959 Brenner2042 3,044,131 7/ 1962 Reynaud 2042 HARRISON R. MOSELEY, PrimaryExaminer.

GEORGE A. NINAS, ]R., NORTON ANSHER, BEN- JAMIN BENDETT, Examiners.

